"Zelda,"
Impa shook her head, "Holding off an attacker until a bodyguard
stops them is different. People will try to kill you, and nobody will
help you."

Zelda
looked down at the ground, "But...I don't want to hurt people, I
mean..."

Impa
placed her hand on Zelda's shoulder, "It's alight, I'll teach
you my full fighting style, remember, actually hurting someone is
only a last resort. There are hundreds of ways to disable a person
without hurting them."

Zelda
smiled slightly, "So...I won't have to hurt anybody?"

"Only
if you absolutely have to." Impa said.

Zelda
stood up, "OK...let's begin...."

Nothing
could compare to the confusion Andire was feeling now. Five people
was standing in front of him, five people who he knew were not
weaklings. They were strong, both physically and mentally. He only
surrounded himself with people he could trust.

"Let
me get this straight..." He said slowly, "A kid took out the
other two? How the hell did that happen?"

"This
was no ordinary kid..." One of the said, "He broke this arm
really easily..." He pointed to his cast, "It wasn't natural.
He was more like a demon then a mere human."

"Yeah,"
another one said, "I've never seen anything like it before. He
kicked Jamer so hard that the wall was cracked."

Andire
frowned, "This... is different." He shook his head, "Could he
be..." He had heard of such people, those gifted by the Goddesses,
those who posses incredible strength and skill. Called upon for a
holy reason, they dedicate their lives to doing the Goddesses will. A
Sage of the Three. Andire was not a fool, he knew that such people
still walked the earth. Yet, he doubted that, if this boy was indeed
gifted, that he was using his gifts wisely. Or maybe it was just a
lucky idiot who had a little talent. It didn't matter to him, the
point was that he would find out who this boy was. "The boy is a
Sheikah, correct?" He asked.

They
nodded slowly.

"Tell
me what he looks like..."

"Sheik...
are you alright?" Kasuto sighed as she looked at him, Sheik's
eyes were glazed over as he mumbled to himself. "Hello?" She
waved her hand in front of him. He didn't respond. "Wait..."
Kasuto looked at her arm, blood was now running down the whole of it.
"Um, Sheik?"

"Huh?"
Sheik looked up at her, his eyes shot wide open when he saw her
wound. "Oh Goddesses!"

"I
was wondering when you would return to reality." Kasuto said
sarcastically, "Come on... we need to go..." She tried to pull
herself up, but she still couldn't stand up.

"Don't
do that!" Sheik said, "You're weak enough as it is, and with
all that bleeding you're doing... You're going to need to save
your strength." He wrapped his arms around her, "I'll help you
up."

"Um..."
Kasuto felt her face become really warm, "Thank you..."

"Don't
mention it." Sheik pulled Kasuto up, supporting her against
himself, "We need to get that checked out. Plus the authorities
need to know about the scum here..."

Kasuto
laughed with relief, "Oh yes... you did." She stopped thinking
about things and just let him carry her.

I
plan to hold you to that promise...

"Malon? Is something wrong?"

Malon
looked at her father, Talon was staring at her, concern showing on
his face. "No Daddy, I'm fine." She muttered. She pressed a hand
on her head. "I just have a little headache, that's all..."

Talon
frowned, "Malon... are you sure it's nothing? You look kind of
pale..."

What
was with her? All of a sudden she had felt a strange rush of emotion,
and she had felt that Sheik and Kasuto were in some trouble, yet they
would be better off because of it. Nothing made sense to her, what
was going on? Not only that, but she could feel her fathers
concern, like she was feeling it herself. Yet it was distinct from
her own emotions. It all suddenly stopped. Malon slumped against a
wall, "It's just a little headache daddy... no need to worry..."
She said quietly.

Malon
groaned, "I...I'm sorry..." She whispered, her eyes closing as
she slipped into a deep and dark sleep.

Impa
shuffled through the papers, nothing new was coming to her. Hitting a
dead end seemed to be the only thing she could do right now.

"Impa."

She
looked up to see Andire giving her a subtle glare, she returned it.
"What is it?" She asked coldly.

"There's
a boy who has caused trouble for some associates of mine." Andire
sat down in front of her desk, "A boy who has free access to the
castle."

Impa
raised an eyebrow, "And... you expect me to know of every young man
who has some job here?"

"I
do when he's a Sheikah." Andire said.

She
smirked and folded her arms, "Unlike some people, I am not obsessed
with race. The fact that this boy who seems to have angered you for
some reason is a Sheikah means nothing to me."

"I
am sure you know him. You know everything that happens in this
place." Andire hissed.

"Is
that a compliment I hear?" Impa laughed.

"I
merely acknowledge your skill in obtaining information. I would be a
fool not to recognize your talent.' He growled.

"Well,
describe the boy to me." Impa said, "You may get lucky." She
shrugged, "But I want a favor in return." She grinned viscously.

"Very
well, a small one." Andire gritted his teeth, Impa was loving this.
"But do not expect it to be done out of the goodness of my heart."

"Wouldn't
dream of it Andire, seeing as there is no goodness in your heart."
Impa said slyly, oh, if only she could hold this sort of power over
him always!

"He
is about four feet tall. With blond hair that covers one of his eyes.
He was wearing dark clothing when they saw him." Andire leveled his
gaze, "Well?"

Impa
smiled, "He sounds familiar... I think I know him. His name is
Sheikam, he goes by Sheik. He's my nephew. If he's been making
your life difficult I'll have to give him a reward."

"You're
nephew?" Andire growled, "Well, that explains why he is so
insolent. Have you by chance trained your nephew?"

Impa
grinned, "Yes. He's very good. He and Zelda are my best
students."

Andire
frowned, "Do he and Zelda know each other?"

"Oh,
definitely yes!" Impa explained

Andire
frowned, "Do the two... interact... often?" he asked.

Impa
tried hard not to laugh, "Oh yes. Sheik and Zelda are very close.
In fact, I'd say they're inseparable, if you know
what I mean."

"Err..."
Andire turned slightly pale.

"Oh
yes, if you find Sheik, Zelda is bound to be nearby." Impa
snickered, "Sometimes they seem to just be two parts of a whole!"
She smirked at the look on Andire's face. "Oh yes... they are
closer then any other people I know their age..."

The
moment Sheik and Kasuto stumbled out of the alley some people noticed
them. Needless to day, they caused a small commotion.

"Are
you OK?" A woman who ran over to them asked, "Oh Din! What
happened to her?"

"My
friend got attacked." Sheik answered, "She could use some help."

"Two
of the guy's who attacked me are back there, they're...
incapacitated. So you don't have to worry about anything." Kasuto
added, "By the way, where's the nearest doctor?"

"Um,
that way." She pointed in a direction, "Don't you two need
help?"

"No...
I fine." Kasuto smiled weakly, "Come on Sheik, let's go."

"Um,
OK." Sheik sighed, "I could use some help though."

"I'll
help," A man ran over to them, "Come on kids..."

They
slowly made it to where Kasuto could get help.

"Hoo...
The Paths of Destiny always swirl around you people in strange ways..."

Malon
groaned, "Wha? Who's there?" She felt too tired to even open
her eyes, plus she wasn't sure if she was awake or dreaming.

"Someone
who's stuck watching over you children... Things are never simple
it seems." The voice answered, "Everybody has a gift, some never
realize their gifts in their lifetimes. Yet you seem to be. Good luck
young Malon."

"Wait...what?"
Malon sat up, her eyes jerking open. There was nothing in her room,
yet, her window was open. She still felt the faint remains of a alien
presence. Her window was open, and the curtain was still fluttering,
even though there was no wind.

The
two were in a hospital. After a doctor had treated Kasuto, she had
asked them to wait for some officials to interview them. Now they
were waiting...

Sheik
tugged at the shirt he had been given to replace the one he had given
Kasuto. He wanted to talk, but he knew now wasn't the time. So
instead the two sat in silence, waiting for the ordeal to end.

Finally,
a Guard came in, her face a calm display of neutrality. It was a
Sheikah woman, her face lit up in recognition when she spotted them.
"Well, hello there Miss Lilla," She said with some surprise, "Are
you a trouble magnet or something?"

"I
guess so." Kasuto muttered.

"You
know her?" Sheik asked.

"Sort
of." Kasuto sighed, "We met when I was arrested yesterday. Her
name is Sarae."

"Oh..." Sheik shook his head, "Well,
at least this time it's different."

Sarae
smiled, "Glad to see you're in good humor." She looked at
Kasuto, "Then again, I guess you were lucky."

"It
wasn't luck." Kasuto said matter-of-factly, "I was helped by
Sheik here." She smiled at him.

Sheik
blushed and chuckled nervously, "Thanks."

"So...
what happened?" Sarae asked.

"Oh..."
The two looked down, the emotions from earlier coming back in a rush.
Kasuto looked up, "Seven men attacked me, they were friends of the
man I blasted yesterday. They wanted revenge."

"I
arrived when she was unconscious." Sheik shuddered with emotion,
"She was unconscious... they were... I just had to do
something! So I... I used force... I disabled two of them, one by
breaking his arm, the other by rendering him unconscious." Sheik
took a few deep breaths, "Then... a third rushed at me... he was
the one who was on Kas... he was the one with a knife... with
her blood on it... I lost control... I became so angry..."
Tears began flowing down his cheeks, "I cast a powerful Shadow
spell. Killing him. The rest ran away after that..." He broke down
into tears, "I'm sorry..." he sobbed.

Sheik
snapped up... "Yes..." he said quietly... "There was something...
the man... that I... I killed, he said ‘If you and your girlfriend
think you can mess with the One Right Way and get away with it,
you're sorely mistaken...'" Sheik eyes narrowed, "They were
members of the OWR..." His eyes flashed, "Those bastards!"
He hissed.

Sheik
gulped nervously, "Kas? I think I need some time to myself... Is
that OK?"

Kasuto
shook her head, "That's fine, I'll be waiting at the Mask
Shop."

"Thanks..."
Sheik said quietly.

"Something
wrong?" Impa asked him as they rested.

Sheik
looked up at the stars, "I hate it all..." He said, "I hate
what has happened to us, I hate what I caused."

"Things
will get better soon, don't worry." Impa patted him on the
shoulder, "Link has already awoken three Sages."

"At
what cost?" Sheik said, "Seven years of death! Of pain that is
all my fault! So many people's blood lie on my hands..." Tears
flowed down his cheeks, "And for years I didn't even realize it!
I dived into a second life, forgetting the first! I'm a murderer!"

"I
am the Time Sage... With my power guiding the other Six... I can
undo it all." Zelda suddenly laughed, "And there will be no
more blood on my hands..."

"And
now I've screwed up again... I took someone's life...
deliberately" Sheik muttered as he walked through the
main castle gate. "What now...? I can't undo it this time...
Nayru wouldn't let me use my powers for such a small thing..." He
pressed his hand against a stone wall. "I did it all for her."
Kasuto, whom he was now one hundred percent sure about. But how to
tell...

The
note she had given him. The one he had promised not to open unless he
was sure on how he felt.

He
ran all the way to his room, not even stopping when he shifted back
into Zelda to avoid being questioned.

Malon
looked at herself in the mirror. There was something different
about her. Yet she couldn't pinpoint it. All she knew was that
there was a nagging worry gnawing at the very edge of her mind. It
just wouldn't leave her, even as she reassured herself that she was
fine, it was just... there. "This is giving me a headache." She
grumbled, annoyance entering her emotional state. Yet the feeling of
worry was still there!

"Forget
this." She said, spinning around and leaving her room. Other then
that annoying feeling of worry she felt fine. Whatever strange
affliction that had over come her seemed to be gone. As she moved
downstairs, the worry got "louder" in a way. She began noticing
it more, as it took over more and more of her mind. "Stop it!"
She whispered. She finally entered the living room, where Talon could
be seen pacing around the room. "Daddy! I'm awake now!" She
said.

Talon
turned to her, and almost instantly the feeling of worry was replaced
by one of relief. "You're alright!" Her father exclaimed,
rushing towards her. As he did the extra emotions in her head grew
louder.

"Gah!"
It suddenly became to much for Malon to handle as another splitting
headache returned to her. "Daddy... please back away... I think
you're giving me a headache somehow." She muttered, "I know it
sounds insane, but it's true."

Talon
stood there for a moment... "Must be hormones." He said finally.

Zelda
pulled the envelope out of her drawer. Inside was contained Kasuto's
secret, one that she desperately wanted to know. "There's no
turning back after this..." She tore open the seal, "I'll stick
by her, no matter what though..." She whispered, as she unfolded
the note.

I
don't care who you are.

I
don't care what you are.

Nor
do I care how the hell you got to be that way.

I
love you.

"Kas..."
Tears flowed down her cheeks, "I'm coming!" She stood up and
ran, eager to reach Kasuto.

"What
happened Kasuto?" Her boss asked her.

"Just
a scratch." She muttered, "That's all."

"I
see... do you need any time off?" He looked at her.

Kasuto
thought about it for a moment, "I don't think so. I'll just
wear shirts with sleeves for a while." She smiled weakly.

"I
see.... Well, I'll be going through the inventory, you just man the
counter." Her boss turned and entered the back.

About
half an hour passed by with Kasuto taking care of one or two
customers.

When
Zelda suddenly burst through the door.

"Zel?"
Kasuto blinked, "Did you run all the way here? And why are you-"
She stopped when Zelda suddenly hugged her.

"I'll
never leave you alone." Zelda whispered, "Ever."

"Are
you..." Kasuto felt her face flush.

"I
want to be with you Kas." Zelda smiled, "I want to stay by your
side, never letting you be unhappy. I want to see you when I wake up
in the morning. I want to see you when I go to sleep."

"Zelda..."
Kasuto looked into her dark blue eyes...

"Please...
let me..." Zelda pleaded, "Let me stay with you."

"I...will..."
Kasuto said quietly.

"Thank
you..." Zelda whispered, slumping against Kasuto. Her eyes closed
as she slipped into a light sleep.

"Zel..."
Kasuto laughed, "You're so cute... Does this mean you... of
course it does."

The
door opened as a young man entered, "Um excuse me, I was wondering
if you had..." He stared at them.